By: Luz Drada, Program Coordinator, Moms Clean Air Force
Date: May 10, 2023
About: Environmental Protection Agency Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0829
To: Environmental Protection Agency
Good afternoon. Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to speak today. I am Luz Drada, and I am the Program Coordinator at Moms Clean Air Force and its Latino engagement program, EcoMadres. We are a community of over 1.5 million moms and dads across the country united to protect children from air pollution and climate change.
The transportation sector is the US's largest source of climate pollution, making up 27% of all emissions. Within the transportation sector, light-duty vehicles are the largest contributor. Cars are also a significant source of dangerous pollutants like particle pollution and NOx, which harm our health. My family and I live near a busy road with heavy traffic in Washington, DC.
And today, I call on EPA to finalize strong clean cars standards this year. It will help to clean up our air, protect the health of our families and communities, and advance environmental justice. More robust standards are crucial in protecting the health of our children, and it is urgent that we act now.
I have an underlying health condition that compromises my immune system, and breathing air pollution can worsen that. I am also a mother to a premature child, and I know firsthand that health outcomes can last a lifetime for some preterm children. As a mother of an early child, it is scary to know that my son is breathing polluted air as his little lungs are still developing. And babies born prematurely like mine can be more susceptible to the health effects of air pollution.
We all benefit from strong EPA action, and these regulations represent a critical opportunity to address the climate crisis and improve public health.
Once again, I support strong standards for clean cars. Everyone has the right to breathe clean air. Please protect our health and our future by finalizing the strongest possible clean cars standards as soon as possible.
Thank you for your work and thank you for your time today.